Welcome to PATCHES Paediatrics

The PATCHES Paediatrics Vision:

“In hard to reach places and populations; children, young people and families will have access to high quality child development, disability and early intervention services. Improved access to these services will improve life outcomes for our clients, and their communities.”

PATCHES Paediatrics aims to deliver high quality child development and early intervention services to hard to reach children and young people. We have specific expertise in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) diagnosis and therapy/support. However, our clinicians provide diagnostic services for a range of neurodevelopment conditions and disabilities.

To refer to PATCHES Paediatrics, or to enquire about our service, please email management@patches-paediatrics.com.au

PATCHES works to bring families, clinicians, schools, justice and child protection services together so that a team based approach to child development, health and education can be achieved.

We work to improve the coordination, efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. We have a commitment to implementing evidence-based therapies and measuring the progress children and young people make toward goals in the home and school environment.

We understand that families, teachers and care workers know their children and young people best. Working with them to set goals for the home and school environment, and in the community we aim to deliver proven therapies that will help them to reach their potential – to be the best that they can be.

By improving a young person’s health and developmental outcomes, we increase their chances of achieving a higher level of education, a greater degree of participation, and set them up for success later in life.

It’s not rocket science… it just makes sense that Healthy Kids Learn Better.

Why we care…

The PATCHES model addresses a service gap: lack of high quality, integrated and coordinated child development, disability and early intervention services in hard to reach places and populations. This service gap has been identified in the health service literature, and that is repeatedly highlighted in regional, state and national health, disability, and education service planning reports. Lack of access to high quality child development, disability and early intervention services limits access to therapy funding and to early intervention therapy services. Therefore child development, education and participation outcomes are adversely impacted.

What we do…

PATCHES has specialist expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and therapy support of children and young people with the presence and cause of neurodevelopment impairment and disability, whether it be related to FASD, genetic conditions, early life and ongoing trauma, injury or other neurodevelopmental conditions. PATCHES run multidisciplinary clinics for diagnosis of FASD, Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Delay, Intellectual Impairment, Mental Health Disorders in the clinical process.

These clinics are run across multiple locations including: UWA, PATCHES Nedlands and St John of God Midland, please see our calendar for upcoming clinic dates.

Outreach Clinics
The PATCHES Clinic draws together existing health staff in local organisations to provide multidisciplinary clinics in regional and remote locations. We will bring a team including a Paediatrician, Aboriginal Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and Neuropsychologist to a single location. (e.g. Baya Gawiy Child and Family Centre, or remote community schools).

Ensure the child and family are active partners in decisions relating to health and education.

Provide a team based approach by having all professionals in one place at one time.

Improve communication between health and education services.

Therapy Programs

More than diagnosis, PATCHES is committed to delivering evidence-based therapy and support for children and young people with developmental or disability issues, working within a systems approach that values family, community and context. We believe that early diagnosis of developmental delay or disability, and early intervention and support, will help children and families to reach their true potential. The PATCHES model includes up-skilling local health staff, case-workers, teachers and parents, and providing Telehealth support. If clients choose PATCHES as their partner for ongoing therapy and support, we provide this in the home, school or community environment. In partnership with families, schools and other service providers, we deliver goal-oriented, evidence-based therapy and support programs, and evaluate these through a research partnership with Telethon Kids Institute, a leading Western Australian research institute.

PATCHES is able to deliver therapy in the Kimberley as a registered service provider for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (WA-NDIS).

PATCHES is able to deliver therapy programs for children, adolescents, parents and carers. For more information on these please click on the links below and see our referrals page to refer to these programs: